South Sudan unveils new salary structure for civil servants amid inflation

JUBA – South Sudan government on Friday unveiled a new salary structure for civil servants which will match with current market demands.

Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said Minister of Labor, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro tabled a new salary structure budget amounting to SSP158,776,579,118 before the cabinet on Friday.

“The current salary structure which is presented to the cabinet and it was demanding a sum of 158,776,579,118 SSP,” Makuei told reporters following a regular cabinet meeting Friday.

Makuei said the new salary structure will adjust the pay of all civil servants in the country, adding the pay raise will be done according to the grades.

“This is one is a new salary structure that covers every employee being a civil a  servant whether in grade 1, grade 18, grade 17 and constitutional post holders and It is an overall salary structure,” said Makuei.

Makuei added that the new salary structure will meet the current market demands.

“When you are determining such things, you are evaluating and put so many things into consideration including market prices,” he said.

He said civil servants, lawmakers, and members of organized forces will receive better pay to cover their needs and that of their families.

“The salary structure comes in as a matter of the salary you are receiving being unable to buy you anything   in the market and this is what brings in the new salary structure because the current salaries are not buying anything for us in the market.”

He disclosed the budget for the new structure has been passed to the economic cluster headed by Vice President Dr. James Wani to make some amendments before passing.

“This, of course, is a big budget and it required a lot of resources and it is one of the reasons   why the budget was to the economic cluster to find out the source of funding this amount and the new forces that are coming in.”

A foot soldier in South Sudan receives roughly 3,600 South Sudanese Pounds.

Government employees, especially the soldiers, police, and teachers are reportedly living in squalid conditions as the government continues millions from oil and non-oil revenue.